Updating a previous report, Carolina Panthers WR Russell Shepard's three-year contract is worth $10.5 million, according to a source. The deal includes a $2 million signing bonus and $2.5 million in guaranteed money. Shepard will make $4 million during the 2017 season.

Fantasy Tip: Shepard came onto the scene quickly before being sidelined last week. He scored twice in as many games, but don't expect that same consistency upon his return. He's a desperation flex play even in a good matchup.

Fantasy Tip: Shepard gives Tampa Bay a bit of the vertical element, so this hurts the passing game a bit. Adam Humphries, Cameron Brate and Cecil Shorts will all fight for scraps in the passing game as Mike Evans continue to dominate targets, but all of them can be ignored in all but the deepest leagues this week.

Fantasy Tip: Shepard has been a pleasant surprise for the Bucs the last two weeks, but his availability isn't looking promising for Thursday night. If he sits again tomorrow then he's all but guaranteed to be sidelined for Week 9. If that's the case, Adam Humphries should see more targets. He's worth a look as a flex start.

Fantasy Tip: Shepard has quickly come onto the fantasy scene over the last two weeks, scoring twice in both games. If Shepard is unable to play Thursday night then Adam Humphries should see more targets as the No. 2 wide receiver behind Mike Evans.

Fantasy Tip: Shepard was the 'next man up', not Adam Humphries, with Vincent Jackson hitting the Reserve/Injured list this week. If you need a bye-week replacement in Week 8 against the Oakland Raiders, Shepard might not be a bad stream option in deeper leagues.

Fantasy Tip: V-Jax is aging, and one of those receivers playing well enough to be put outside is a question mark. Jackson had just a 33-543-3 season in 2015, but he could still be a viable WR5 in PPR leagues. Bell has the most upside of the other four, and he's a WR5 flyer. The other three probably aren't worth drafting at this point.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers restricted free-agent WR Russell Shepard was tendered with a one-year, $1.671 million contract. It's the lowest restricted free-agent tender that doesn't include draft-pick compensation but gives the team first refusal.

Philadelphia Eagles WR Russell Shepard saw first-team reps during practice Tuesday, Aug. 7. He has reportedly had a good camp, but he struggled Tuesday. He even drew a false start penalty, drawing the ire of head coach Chip Kelly.

Fantasy Tip: Benn could be a better keep than Cooper because he can play the slot and outside along with his return experience. Either way, the wide receivers in Chip Kelly's system take a hit from past years in Andy Reid's. Jackson and Maclin are merely WR3s, and these depth players aren't as attractive as fantasy flyers anymore.

"He got better during the rookie camp, and you saw him improve over that," Kelly said, speaking of Momah. "So I'm excited about both of those guys. But we've got some competition out there. And they add to that."

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly confirmed that he prefers larger and taller players at most positions on his team, but he's in favor of protecting his smaller players like WR DeSean Jackson. Jackson touched the ball progressively less in each of his five NFL seasons in part because the team worried about keeping him healthy. Jackson only played in five games last year because of fractured ribs and only scored one touchdown. He hopes he can go back to being extremely productive in the team's new offense with larger players creating mismatches for their opponents. "I'm challenging myself to be able to play every position," said Jackson, who's been hinting all offseason that he could be lining up in the backfield as well. "There might be a play or a different position where I normally would not line up or be in, but the leeway of the offense gives us the opportunity to go inside and outside and things like that, so I'm taking advantage of the opportunity to learn the whole offense and be in different spaces throughout the game."
Twelve of the team's receivers on the roster are 6-foot-1 or taller, including WRs Arrelious Benn (6-foot-6), Greg Salas (6-foot-1) and Riley Cooper (6-foot-3). Kelly hopes to make opponents pay if they decide to double team Jackson or jam him at the line of scrimmage. Having bigger receivers outside to block should also help the running game. WR Russell Shepard, an undrafted rookie, will have the same opportunity as Benn to prove himself. "I was on the front line on kickoffs, I played running back, I played quarterback, I played receiver," Shepard said. "So (the versatility) is giving me more of an opportunity of making this 53-man roster."

Fantasy Tip: Fantasy owners should expect Kelly to try and involve Jackson more in an offense that should cater to Jackson's wishes to touch the ball more often and score more frequently. Jackson has been a frustrating play in point-per-reception formats in his career, but that could be changing. Until we know more about how he may be involved in this new scheme, consider him a midrange No. 3 wideout.

LSU WR Russell Shepard posted on his official Twitter account Friday, Jan. 13, that he is returning to school for his senior season, apparently at the behest of his family and head coach Les Miles. "I would like to tell everyone that I had a great talk with my family and Coach Miles and I will be attending LSU for my season season," he tweeted.